Environmental exposure to carcinogens in northwestern Cameroon

Abstract

Background: In developing countries, 6% of deaths are due to cancer but cancer prevention is not practiced. Humans can prevent themselves from a number of workplace and environmental carcinogens. Objectives: To assess exposure to carcinogens, risky behaviours and associated preventive methods. Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on carcinogen exposure in the workplace and environment through trained field staff from volunteers after gaining informed consent. Data was analysed using SPSS. Results: Participants were exposed to recognized carcinogens and environmental hazards. Thirty-five (83.3%) [95% CI: 72.0-94.6] participants knew the carcinogen names they were exposed to. Common hygienic practices such as taking a bath and washing work dresses at the workplace, use of detergents to wash hands, and no smoking or eating at the workplace were poor. Twenty-nine (69.0%) [95% CI: 47.0 -75.0] participants could smell the carcinogenic chemicals they use. Thirty (71.4%) [95% CI: 65.0 -77.0] participants had been instructed in the use of protective equipment against carcinogens. Participants used preventive devices like hand gloves, laboratory coats, boots, face masks, goggles, ear plugs and respirators. Conclusions: Exposure to carcinogens is common necessitating case-control and cohort studies in this locality on cancer prevalence and incidence.

Knowledge and Practice of Malaria Prevention/Control Among Pregnant Women in Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH) Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria

“…This might reflect issues of accessibility and quality in the health facilities. But in practice 22.9% of the respondents reported always going to hospital for treatment while 77.0% and 2.1% sometimes and always usehome treatment/herbal medicine and use of dagoyaro herbs respectively, which is consistent with findings reported from other studies in Nigeria (Fatungase, Amoran & Alausa, 2012;Okwa, Bello & Olundegun, 2011) and other countries (Nsagha, Njunda & Kamga, 2011;Simsek & Kurcer, 2005). The use of home treatment might be because most of them could not afford hospital and needed prompt treatment.…”

Editorial: Non-communicable diseases are reaching epidemic proportions: evidence from low and middle income countries

“…Contributions include: prognostic value of glypican-3 in alpha fetoprotein negative hepatocellular carcinoma patients 27 ; immunohistochemical expression of EBV latent membrane protein and p53 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma 28 . Others are on environmental exposure to carcinogens in Cameroon, 29 and chronic inflammatory cells and damaged limbal basal epithelial cells in pterygium. 30 The section on surgery and the GIT includes several interesting papers on factors affecting mortality of critical care trauma patients 31 ; sarcoma of small bowel mesentery simulating hyper immune splenomegaly syndrome 32 ; and upper GI bleeding among neonates 33 .…”

Development of water-soluble polyanionic carbosilane dendrimers as novel and highly potent topical anti-HIV-2 microbicides

“…1,2 Moreover, co-infection with both HIV-1 and HIV-2 occurs in some countries of West Africa where the viruses co-circulate. 3,4 Sexual transmission is responsible for the majority of HIV-2 infections due to infected semen or cervicovaginal secretions containing infected lymphocytes. 5 Ideally, a vaginal/rectal microbicide should have the following features: to be acceptable and affordable, offer maximal and immediate protection, remain in the vagina for a few hours to act against the sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) during and after sexual intercourse, not leak immediately after application, not accumulate to avoid toxicity effects, not affect the normal vaginal flora, and be compatible with male latex condom.…”